Here’s a random list of things that come to mind as of lately. Things RS has done or said:
-I love her crazy animated faces. She is so expressive. The best is when she is 2 inches from your face and her eyes get wide, eyebrows shoot up, and she opens her mouth in a happy crazy scream. Or the wide eyes she gets in a grocery store, or any store. Michaels causes the most animated faces. Michaels to RS, is like me to a cheese shop.
-I love that she insists on riding in the cart at the store. And not only that, she insists on wearing the seat belt. I wonder how much longer this will last. It’s a great perk she offers right now. But sooner or later she’ll catch on that the seat belt restricts her movement in the cart, and then the cart itself restricts her ability to run like a wild animal through the aisles.
-Ok this one is sad. I love when she misses mommy. That sounds mean, and by no means do I wish her fear or pain. What I mean is I am thankful she is attaching so well. This morning the trash came, and I didn’t have the can down at the driveway yet. I heard the grumbling truck coming. One of my biggest pet peeves is to miss the garbage truck. And our can was overflowing, so I had no choice but to catch them. So I booked it out of the house in a focused fury. I met the truck in time, but as I came back up to the house, RS was standing on the backporch sobbing little tears and calling for mommy. It broke my heart and I felt so terrible. But is it horrible to say I loved scooping her up, profusely apologizing, and relishing in comforting her? And finding promise in the attachment we are cultivating for one another?
-I broke all the rules last night and allowed a ’slumber party’. RS loved it. She and I watched a movie and fell asleep together. I was clear that this was a special night, that she would go back to her own bed tomorrow. But man, I loved snuggling and her wanting to always have one of my arms around her throughout the night.
-I love random I love yous. The other kind are sweet, but not the same…you know the ones that are mere replies to you saying it first…or when she is bribed or pacified with a new toy, book or candy or popcorn…”mommy! I love you! I love you so much!” Uh huh, sure. Would you feel that way if I hadn’t just given you a new Leap Frog Tag Reader book? I’m talking about really really loving the unsolicited I love yous. Like the one last night. Halfway through a Dora movie she’s seen 17 times this week, RS rolls over and says, “Mommy I love you so much”, and rolled back over in time for the Map song. Ok, wait. Maybe that was all about me letting her watch Dora again…whatever…don’t spoil my moment.
-This one’s the best. At the grocery yesterday, she pointed and smiled at a little girl in another shopping cart. The girl was about her age, and she and her mother were of Asian decent. The other girl smiled and waved. And RS looked up at me, grinning, and shouted, “Mama, CHINA!!!” Nice. Mmmm-hmmmm. And being the immature person I am, I immediately laughed. It caught me off guard, and man, it was just plain funny for so many reasons.
-I love picking up RS from preschool. She is typically very sweet and snuggly. And 99% of the time she runs to me all happy-happy. She’s so giddy and elated. And she always tells me she was a good girl. ” Mommy, RS goooood girl today. Goooood girl.” I love the way she tells her teachers and friends, “See you later!” and waves as I tote her out. This sweetness lasts until she’s in the car and realizes I didn’t pack strawberries and sugar in her snackpack for the ride home.
-RS loves cleaning up and cooking. It’s definitely a cultural thing for her. And I’m happy to respect it.
You know she was expected to do these things in Ethiopia at HH or in her birthfamily home. She will help set and clear a table, sweep the floors, and just about clean anything else you put in front of her. And she does it with excitement and an aim to please. She is very proud of herself when she finishes a project. And she can be very bossy if you try and help her wash a dish or fold a shirt. Even more so, she’s offended if you don’t let her help at all. I have flowers left to plant outside, and I wouldn’t dream of doing it until we have time to do it together. Otherwise she feels she was left out on the best game ever.
I hope this trait lasts. It’s a good one. And no, you can’t borrow her. We need to powerwash the house and build a bonus room this weekend…
-RS misses Daddy. It’s so sweet. When she sees any SUV, she points and asks if that’s Daddy’s car. She asks when he’ll be home, if he’ll be joining us on errands, etc. She cheers when his truck pulls into the drive. And in a perfect 5 year old girlie way, when he finally walks through the door, RS hides or snubs her nose at him. She’s just playing hard to get.
-She loves my brother David. Which is saying a lot, right? Come on, those of you that know him, and Dave himself would admit it too. My brother uses arm canes to walk, and RS has never once acted strange about that or questioned it. She actually seems acutely aware that it’s her job to help him. She’ll cover him up with a blanket if she catches him dozing in front of the TV. She opens and closes doors for him. Last weekend, she was overly encouraging. She held open the door as Dave made his way from the patio to the living room. Then to help him along, she pushed on his butt with 2 hands, saying “C’mon Deevid…Inside!”
-RS is very considerate of other kids and especially those younger than her. And she calls anyone seemingly younger, a baby. She plays and shares well. She waits her turn. Sometimes she almost mothers other kids. And she loves to hug. Plus if she really digs you, you’re going to get a wet kiss on the cheek. Maybe 2.
-RS’s English is coming along very well. She speaks in decent caveman like sentences. But she’s really picking up on specific phrases. A few nights ago, I wrapped her head in a silk scarf while she was sleeping (to protect her hair). Mike got her up in the morning. She reached up and pulled the scarf off. Then with a confused, aggitated, scrunched up face, RS declared, “WHAT is THIS?!!” and threw the pink scarf across the room.